Erik Lamela is closing in on a comeback for Tottenham nearly a year after he last appeared in the first team.
Although he did not travel to Spain to face Real Madrid earlier this week, Lamela has been training again with the squad and is pushing for a return. Even if boss Mauricio Pochettino decides to keep him out of Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool, Lamela – who joined for a then-club-record £30m in 2013 – could be involved against West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Lamela’s last appearance for Spurs was in the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool in the EFL Cup on October 25 last year. Since then, he has undergone hip surgery and spent time away from Tottenham, working with medical staff at former club Roma.
Lamela’s return, and Danny Rose’s re-appearance as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu, means Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele are the only players currently sidelined.
Dembele travelled with the squad to Spain and hoped to make his first appearance for a month, but could not do so after complaining of pain in his hip during preparations for the Champions League fixture.
The Belgium midfielder had original been struggling with an ankle problem but is now suffering with his hip, something that has also caused him problems in the past.
Wanyama, meanwhile, was due for a planned visit to a specialist to check progress on his rehabilitation from a knee injury.
In Pictures | Real Madrid vs Tottenham | 17/10/2017
Both Dembele and Wanyama were key players for Spurs last season, but Wanyama has not featured since the 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Wembley on August 20, while Dembele has started only five matches.
Meanwhile, Spurs hoped Ben Davies would return against Liverpool after a two-match absence. Davies was unable to play in either of the last two matches, the win over Bournemouth and the draw at Real Madrid, due to illness, but Tottenham were optimistic the Wales left-back would recover in time for Sunday.
